Handling system for horticultural materials

Abstract

A handling system fabricated essentially of sheet material including a container defined by a tube of polygonal cross section having end tabs extending into overlapping relation with their overlapping portions secured together; a tray for a plurality of said containers including a lower support wall, upstanding flaps extending in end to end relation about the support wall and fastener means also fabricated of sheet material and securing together the ends of the flaps; a generally cylindrical tube adapted to rest endwise on the support wall with portions generally tangent to the flaps, and similar fastener means secured to the adjacent flap and cylinder portions; and the fastener means specifically including overlying sheet portions having cuts defining overlying strips displaceable away from the remainder of the sheet portions, an insert extendable through and beyond the space between displaced strips and adjacent sheet portions, and a tool for guiding the insert into position and removable from the insert to leave the latter in position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a handling system, a tray comprising a generally polygonal lower support wall having drain openings and configured to conformably support a predetermined number of containers, and an upstanding surrounding wall extending circumferentially about said support wall for conformably surrounding said predetermined number of containers, said surrounding wall comprising a flap upstanding integrally from each side edge of said support wall, securing means securing together adjacent end portions of said flaps, and partial securing means on each flap intermediate the ends thereof for tangential securement to an upstanding cylinder on said support wall generally tangent to said flaps. 
     
     
       2. A handling system according to claim 1, said tray support and surrounding walls being integrally fabricated of a stiff foldable plastic tray sheet. 
     
     
       3. A handling system according to claim 2, said tray sheet comprising a central polygonal panel defining said support wall, a plurality of flaps extending integrally from respective sides of said central panel and hingedly connected to the latter by folds, said flaps being swingable upwardly relative to said central panel into end to end relation with each other to define said surrounding wall, and securing means securing said flaps in said end to end relation. 
     
     
       4. A handling system according to claim 1, in combination with an open ended cylinder removably upstanding on said support wall in tangential relation with each of said flaps, and a pair of cuts in said cylinder defining therebetween a cylinder strip and located adjacent to each of said flaps, said partial securing means comprising a pair of flap cuts in each flap defining therebetween a flap strip adjacent to a respective cylinder strip, each of said flap strips overlying the adjacent cylinder strip and being displaceable with the latter outwardly away from the plane of the respective adjacent flap, and an insert part having end enlargements insertable into the space between each flap and said displaced strips with said end enlargements on opposite sides of the adjacent strip to retain the insert part in position. 
     
     
       5. A handling system according to claim 4, an insert part being fabricated of the same material as said flaps. 
     
     
       6. In a handling system, a container comprising a plurality of substantially equal length panels in side by side aligned relation with their adjacent side edges connected together and their end edges generally coplanar, said panels being swingable into a closed polygonal configuration to define a tube, a flap hingedly connected to the outer side edge of one outer panel and swingable into overlapping engagement with the other outer panel, a fastener extending through overlapping regions of said flap and other outer panel, a plurality of substantially identical tabs each hinged on one end edge of each panel at one end of said tube, said tabs tapering toward their free ends and being swingable generally normal to said panels with their free end portions overlying each other generally centrally of said tube to substantially close one tube end, and a fastener securing together said overlying free tab end portions, the remaining tab portions being free of each other, whereby said tube provides a soil container side wall and said tabs provide a soil container bottom wall with soil drainage between tabs. 
     
     
       7. A handling system according to claim 6, said panels, flap and tabs all being integrally fabricated of a stiff foldable plastic container sheet. 
     
     
       8. A handling system according to claim 7, said container sheet having folds defining hinged connections between adjacent panels and their respective tabs and flap. 
     
     
       9. A handling system according to claim 6, in combination with a tray for conformably receiving a plurality of said containers and comprising a lower support wall specifically configured for supporting engagement with the undersides of a predetermined number of said containers, said support wall being open for draining, and an upstanding surrounding wall extending circumferentially about said support wall in surrounding relation with said containers and upstanding from said support wall to a height no greater than that of said containers. 
     
     
       10. A handling system according to claim 9, said tray support and surrounding walls being integrally fabricated of a stiff foldable plastic tray sheet. 
     
     
       11. A handling system according to claim 10, said tray sheet comprising a central polygonal panel defining a support wall, a plurality of flaps extending integrally from respective sides of said central panel and hingedly connected to the latter by folds, said flaps being swingable upwardly relative to said central panel into end to end relation with each other to define said surrounding wall, and securing means releasably securing said flaps in said end to end relation. 
     
     
       12. A handling system according to claim 11, in combination with a stiffener board fabricated of less flexible material relative to that of said tubes and tray and removably engageable between each of said flaps and the adjacent containers to resist flap bowing. 
     
     
       13. In a handling system, a container comprising a plurality of substantially equal length panels in side by side aligned relation with their adjacent side edges connected together and their end edges generally coplanar, said panels being swingable into a closed polygonal configuration to define a tube, a tab hinged on one end edge of each panel at one end of said tube, said tabs being swingable generally normal to said panels with their free end portions overlying each other generally centrally of said tube, a fastener securing together said overlying free tab end portions, said tube providing a soil container side wall and said tabs providing a soil container bottom wall with drainage for the soil, and a tray for conformably receiving a plurality of said containers and comprising a lower support wall specifically configured for supporting engagement with the undersides of a predetermined number of said containers, said support wall being open for draining, and an upstanding surrounding wall extending circumferentially about said support wall in surrounding relation with said containers on said support wall, said tray support and surrounding walls being integrally fabricated of a stiff foldable plastic tray sheet, said tray sheet comprising a central polygonal panel defining a support wall, a plurality of flaps extending integrally from respective sides of said central panel and hingedly connected to the latter by folds, said flaps being swingable upwardly relative to said central panel into end to end relation with each other to define said surrounding wall, and securing means releasably securing said flaps in said end to end relation, said securing means comprising a pair of overlapping sheet portions, said sheet portions each having a pair of cuts defining therebetween a strip with the strips of said sheet portions in overlying relation, said strips being displaceable out of the planes of said overlying sheet portions, and an insert part having end enlargements and insertable into the space between said sheet portions and displaced strips with said end enlargements on opposite sides of said strips to retain the insert part in position. 
     
     
       14. A handling system according to claim 13, said insert part being fabricated of the same material as said sheet portions. 
     
     
       15. A handling system according to claim 13, said end enlargements having a lateral dimension greater than the length of said strips for retention thereby, and a score on one end enlargement for folding the latter to facilitate insertion into said space. 
     
     
       16. A handling system according to claim 13, in combination with a tool comprising an elongate stem configured to pass through said cuts, and a clip on one end of said stem having its outer end closed for carrying said insert part into said space, said clip and stem being withdrawable without said insert part to leave the latter in position in said space. 
     
     
       17. In a handling system, a tray comprising a generally polygonal lower support wall having drain openings and configured to conformably support a predetermined number of containers, and an upstanding surrounding wall extending circumferentially about said support wall for conformably surrounding said predetermined number of containers, said surrounding wall comprising a flap upstanding integrally from each side edge of said support wall, securing means securing together adjacent end portions of said flaps, and partial securing means on each flap intermediate the ends thereof for securement to an upstanding cylinder on said support wall generally tangent to said flaps, said tray support and surrounding walls being integrally fabricated of a stiff foldable plastic tray sheet, said tray sheet comprising a central polygonal panel defining said support wall, a plurality of flaps extending integrally from respective sides of said central panel and hingedly connected to the latter by folds, said flaps being swingable upwardly relative to said central panel into end to end relation with each other to define said surrounding wall, and securing means securing said flaps in said end to end relation, said securing means comprising a pair of overlapping sheet portions, said sheet portions each having a pair of cuts defining therebetween a strip with the strips of said sheet portions in overlying relation, said strips being displaceable out of the plane of said overlying sheet portions, and an insert part having end enlargements and insertable into the space between said sheet portions and displaced strips with said end enlargements on opposite sides of said strips to retain the insert part in securing position. 
     
     
       18. A handling system according to claim 17, in combination with a tool comprising an elongate stem configured to pass through said cuts, and a clip on one end of said stem having its outer end closed for carrying said insert part into said space, said clip and stem being withdrawable without said insert part to leave the latter in securing position. 
     
     
       19. Fastener means for flexible sheet material comprising a pair of overlying sheet portions, said sheet portions each having a pair of cuts defining therebetween a strip with the strips of said sheet portions in overlying relation, said strips being displaceable out of the plane of said overlying sheet portions, and an insert part having end enlargements and insertable into the space between said sheet portions and displaced strips with said end enlargements on opposite sides of said strip to retain the insert part in secured position. 
     
     
       20. Fastener means according to claim 19, said insert part being fabricated out of the same material as said sheet portions. 
     
     
       21. Fastener means according to claim 19, said end enlargements having a lateral dimension greater than the length of said strips for retention thereby, and a score on one end enlargement for folding the latter to facilitate insertion into said space. 
     
     
       22. Fastener means according to claim 19, in combination with a tool comprising an elongate stem configured to pass through said cuts, and a clip on one end of said stem having its outer end closed for carrying said insert part into said space, said clip and stem being withdrawable without said insert part to leave the latter in position.